Tubing catcher



. 1 Dec. 29, 1931. s. A. GUIBERSON; 30 1,838,391

TUBING CATCHER Filed Sept. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec 29, 1931.

S. A. GUIBERSON, 3D

TUBING CATCHER Fiied Sept. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. GUIBERSON, 31), OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T THEE;

GUIBERSON CORPORATION, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TUBING- QATCHER Application filed September 21, 1929. Serial No. 394,354.

This invention relates. to new and useful improvements in tubing catchers.

One object of the invention is to provide gripping slips poised between'a weight element' and spring tensioned supports, whereby said slips are displaced radially to grip a casing when the catcher falls. 1

A particular object of the invention is to provide gripping slips suspended by spring hangers under tension and held in position by a pendant weight.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily under stood from a reading, of the following specification and by reference to'theaccompanying drawings in which an example. of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is'a plan view of'a well tubing catcher constructed in accordance with my invention, c 7

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 3%3 of Figure 2,

' Figure '4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the mounting of the spring hanger, 7.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 5'5 of Figure 2, y

, Figure 6 is an enlarged front view showing the spring hanger mounting on the head,

Figure 7 is an elevation of a tubingcatcher illustrating another form of the invention,

Figure 8 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9'of Figure 7 Figure 10 is a sectional view of a position of the head, i

Figure 11 is a sectional view of one of the rollers, I V

Figure 12 is a detail showing the manner of fastening therollers, and

Figure 13 isan elevation of the same.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a section-of well tubing having a collar 11' at its upper end anda collar 12at its lower end. A head 13 is immovably secured on the tubing below the collar 11. The head or body has a reduced collar 14 at its upper end surrounding thetubing. Three downwardly and inwardly" inclined guide faces 15 are equally spaced on the sides of the head. A guide rib 16 extends down the center of each face. Each guide rib is dovetailed in cross-secti0n. On each face is mounted a slip 17 having its inner side or back flat so as to'lie against and slide upon the guide face 15. Theoute'r side or front of the slip is curved transversely in an arc concentric to the tubing and is provided with the usual gripper teeth 18. Each slip is also given a wedge shape being reduced from its bottom to its top edge. It is preferable to give the back of the slipthe same angle of inclination as the face 15 and to make the 6 front of the slip on the same radius throughout, thereby holding the teeth parallel to the :inner wallof the casing at all elevationsof adjustment, but is subject to variation. 4

Each slip is formed with dovetailed re--7 cesses 19 complementary toandreceiving the guide rib 16. By this arrangement eachs lip is free to slide vertically, but is held against relative radial displacement and the equal spacing of the slips is also maintained. Each* slip has'a pair of spaced cars 20 on itsbottom and the upper end of a link 21 is pivoted between said ears.

At the bottom of each guide face the head has a boss 22 provided with central slot 23" through which the link depends. The guide ribs 16 terminate at the slots. The outer faces of the boss may conform to the head proper.

Thehead is provided with concaved vertical I channels 24 between the guide faces 15 permitting a free passage of fluid.

A cylindrical weight collar 25, freely slidable on tubing, has cars '26 provided on its top side between which the lower ends of the links 21 are pivoted. The weight has its top and bottom beveled. so as to offer less resistance to fluidswhen raised and loweredin the casing. Near the center of the weight radial. drain ports 27. are provided for the escape of sand and other extraneous matter. v

Each guide rib 16 has at its top a recess 28 in which a stationary arbor 29 is mounted on asquare bolt 33 secured in said rib 16. A spiral orvolute spring 30, similar to a clock spring, has one end fastened to the arbor and 6 'thus maintaining its position.

fastened to the roller.

is wound around the latter. The opposite end 34 of the spring 30 is attached to one of the slips 17 in a groove 32 at the top thereof. The recess 28 is large enough to provide ample space for expansion of the spring when tension is released. The arbor 29 is set back in the recess 28 far enough so that the coiled spring will not project beyond the head 13.

The tension of each spring 30 is regulated by-the weight of the slip 17 and cylindrical weight 25. The elongated end 34: of each spring constitutes a hanger for supporting the slip. The weight of the slip and the collar 25 will tightly coil the spring around the arbor 29.

In using the catcher it is connected in the string of tubing by means of the coupling collars 11 and 12, the nearer the bottom the better, but always within the casing. Normally the slips will be withdrawn within the diameter of the head 13, as is shown in Fig ure 4, and will not engage the casing, thus permitting the catcher and the string of tubing to be freely moved up and down in the casing.

If the tubing above the head 13 should break at any point in the string or if the string should be dropped, the operation will be as follows: The inertia of the weight 25, accentuated by the tendency of the springs 30 to expand and elevate the slips, will cause said weight to momentarily remain stationary, The head 13 and tubing section 10, however, being attached to the string of tubing will tend to descend more rapidly; consequently the links 21 being sustained by the inert weight will support the slips 17 which will be relatively displaced radially of the head by the downward movement on the inclined guide faces 15 and the ribs 16, andby the expansion of the springs. The teeth 18 being sharp and hard will readily bite into the casing and hold the parts against further drop. This action is very rapid and usuallyv the catch is made within a drop of three inches.

The advantage of this type of catcher over others is that it can be manufactured for very little cost and may be made much shorter in length than the type having a coiled spring supporting the weight.

In Figures 7 to 13 inclusive I have shown another form of the invention in which the slips 17 are suspended from the lower ends of flexible straps 34- made of metal, fabric or other suitable material. Each strap has its upper end partially-wound on a roller 40which is journaled on a shaft 11 seated in the recess 28.

Each roller contains a spring 42 coiled about the shaft 41 thereof and having one end fastened to said shafts and the other The ends of each shaft are squared and confined in seats 43 formed in the ribs 16 at each side of the recess 28 thereof. The shafts are confined by keeper plates or caps 44.

In placing the rollers the strips may be wound upon the rollers so that when the slips are allowed to descend to their normal position as is shown in Figures 7 and 10, the rollers will be rotated by the unwinding of the straps. This will wind the springs 42 thus placing the rollers under tension. l/Vhen the catcher falls the inertia of the weight collar 25 will permit the'head to fall and the rollers will thus wind up the straps and set the slips.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the oppended claims.

What I claim, is:

1. In a tubing catcher, a tubular support, a head mounted on said support, gripper slipsmounted on the head and movable outwardly thereof, a weight member slidable below the head and connected with said slips, and individual spring tensioned hangers carried by said head above said slips and each hanger being separately connected to one of said slips.

2. In a tubing catcher, a tubular support, a head mounted on said support, gripper slips mounted on the head and movable outwardly 35 thereof, a welght member slidable below the head and connected with said slips, and spring expansion members carried by the head above and connected with the tops of said slips and acting to individually elevate said slips when expanded.

3. In a. tubing catcher, a tubular support, a head mounted on said support, gripper slips mounted on the head and movable outwardly thereof, a weight member slidable below the head and connected with said slips, and spirally wound rotatable spring supports connected to the head and the slips for elevating the slips when rotated and unwound.

4. In a tubing catcher, a support, a head carried by the support. gripper slips mounted on the head and movable outwardly thereof, and a plurality of spring expansion members carried by the head each connected with one of the slips and acting to elevate said slips individually when expanded.

5. In a. tubing catcher, a support, a head carried by the support,'gripper slips mounted on the head and movable outwardly thereof, and spirally wound spring supports connect ed to the head and the slips, each spring support being individually connected with a slip for elevating the latter when unwound.

6. In a tubing catcher, a tubular support, a head mounted on said support and provided with outwardly and upwardly inclined guide faces. gripper slips confined to slide on the faces of the head, links depending from the slips, a weight collar suspended by the links and slidable on the support, the head having recesses at the upper ends of the faces, arbors mounted in the recesses of the head and springs Wound around the arbors and depending therefrom, one end of each spring being fastened to an arbor and the depending end being attaehed to a slip.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

SAMUEL A. GUIBERSON, III. 

